Recessed mount with stowed clamps

Abstract

A method of attaching a mounting bracket to a substrate having a throughhole includes providing the bracket with two clamp halves. One of the clamp halves is translated in a radially inward direction relative to a body of the bracket to thereby place the one clamp half in a stowed position. The bracket is partially inserted through the throughhole such that the one clamp half in the stowed position passes through the throughhole and the other clamp half does not pass through the throughhole. After the partially inserting step, the one clamp half is translated in a radially outward direction relative to the body of the bracket to thereby place the one clamp half in an operable position. A threaded member that is threadedly engaged to the one clamp half is rotated to thereby move the one clamp half toward the other clamp half until the substrate is clamped between the two clamp halves.

1. A method of attaching a mounting bracket to a substrate having a throughhole, the method including:
 providing the bracket with two clamp halves; 
 translating one of the clamp halves in a radially inward direction relative to a body of the bracket to thereby place the one clamp half in a stowed position; 
 partially inserting the bracket through the throughhole such that the one clamp half in the stowed position passes through the throughhole and the other clamp half does not pass through the throughhole; 
 after the partially inserting step, translating the one clamp half in a radially outward direction relative to the body of the bracket to thereby place the one clamp half in an operable position; and 
 rotating a threaded member that is threadedly engaged to the one clamp half to thereby move the one clamp half toward the other clamp half until the substrate is clamped between the two clamp halves. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step, before the rotating step, of visually or tactilely verifying that the one clamp half is in the operable position. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the two clamp halves comprise first and second clamp halves, the method comprising the further steps of:
 providing the bracket with third and fourth clamp halves; 
 translating the third clamp half in a radially inward direction relative to the body of the bracket to thereby place the third clamp half in a stowed position; 
 partially inserting the bracket through the throughhole such that the third clamp half in the stowed position passes through the throughhole and the fourth clamp half does not pass through the throughhole; 
 after the partially inserting step, translating the third clamp half in a radially outward direction relative to the body of the bracket to thereby place the third clamp half in an operable position; and 
 rotating a threaded member that is threadedly engaged to the third clamp half to thereby move the third clamp half toward the fourth clamp half until the substrate is clamped between the third and fourth clamp halves. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the body of the bracket is substantially plate-shaped, the method comprising the further step of providing a plate-shaped leg extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the plate-shaped body, each of the clamp halves being coupled to the leg. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the leg includes first and second through holes, the one clamp half including first and second protrusions, wherein the step of translating the one clamp half in a radially inward direction includes inserting the first protrusion into the first through hole and inserting the second protrusion into the second through hole. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the leg includes a third through hole that is larger than each of the first and second through holes, wherein the step of translating the one clamp half in a radially inward direction includes partially inserting the one clamp half into the third through hole. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the body of the bracket is substantially plate-shaped, the method comprising the further steps of:
 providing a first and second plate-shaped legs extending substantially perpendicularly from respective opposite edges of the plate-shaped body; 
 providing at least one vertical slot in each of the legs; 
 translating an adjustable platform along the slots to a position that accommodates a height of a camera to be attached to the platform; and 
 fixing the platform in place at the position that accommodates the height of the camera. 
 
     
     
       8. A mount assembly for attaching a surveillance camera to a ceiling panel, the assembly comprising:
 a bracket including a body interconnecting two substantially plate-shaped legs, each of the legs including a respective through hole; 
 two first clamp halves, each of the first clamp halves extending in an outward perpendicular direction from a bottom portion of a respective one of the legs, each of the first clamp halves including a respective through hole with a substantially vertically-oriented axis; 
 two second clamp halves, each of the second clamp halves including a respective threaded through hole and being disposed generally above a respective one of the first clamp halves; and 
 two threaded bolts, each of the bolts extending through the through hole of a respective said first clamp half and threadedly engaged with the threaded through hole of a respective said second clamp half, each of the bolts being movable between an operable position and a stowed position, each of the bolts partially extending through the through hole of a respective said leg in the stowed position, each of the bolts being configured to be rotated while in the operable position to thereby translate the respective second clamp half in a vertical direction and clamp the ceiling panel between the respective first and second clamp halves. 
 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the legs are substantially parallel. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 8  wherein each of the second clamp halves partially extends through the through hole of a respective said leg in the stowed position. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 8  wherein each of the second clamp halves includes:
 a lower leg disposed on an inside of a respective said leg; and 
 an upper leg disposed on an outside of said respective leg in the operable position. 
 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a substantially plate-shaped vertically adjustable platform including two opposite ends, each opposite end being adjustably attached to a respective one of the two legs. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each said leg includes at least one vertical slot, the assembly further comprising a plurality of fastening devices, each of the fastening devices being attached to the platform through a corresponding one of the slots and thereby fixing the platform at a chosen vertical position. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 8  wherein each of the second clamp halves is configured to engage a respective said leg to thereby prevent rotation of the second clamp half while a respective said bolt is rotated. 
     
     
       15. A mount assembly for attaching a surveillance camera to a ceiling panel, the assembly comprising:
 a bracket including a body interconnecting two substantially plate-shaped legs, each of the legs including a respective first through hole and a respective second through hole; 
 two first clamp halves, each of the first clamp halves extending in an outward perpendicular direction from a bottom portion of a respective one of the legs, each of the first clamp halves including a respective through hole with a substantially vertically-oriented axis; 
 two second clamp halves, each of the second clamp halves including a body portion having a respective threaded through hole and a substantially horizontally inwardly extending protrusion attached to the body portion, each of the second clamp halves being disposed generally above a respective one of the first clamp halves; 
 two threaded bolts, each of the bolts extending through the through hole of a respective said first clamp half and threadedly engaged with the threaded through hole of a respective said second clamp half, each of the bolts being movable between an operable position and a stowed position, each of the body portions of the second clamp halves at least partially extending through the first through hole of a respective said leg in the stowed position, each of the protrusions at least partially extending through the second through hole of a respective said leg in the stowed position, each of the bolts being configured to be rotated while in the stowed position to thereby translate the respective second clamp half and lock the bolt in the stowed position with the protrusion latching onto a lower edge of the second through hole, each of the bolts being configured to be rotated while in the operable position to thereby translate the respective second clamp half in a vertical direction and clamp the ceiling panel between the respective first and second clamp halves; and 
 an adjustable platform attached to each of the legs at an adjustable vertical position, the platform being configured to be attached to and support the surveillance camera. 
 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 15  wherein each of the legs includes a plurality of through slots, the adjustable platform being attached to the legs by a set of captive screws, each of the screws extending through a corresponding one of the slots. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16  wherein each of the legs includes two said second through holes, each said second clamp half including two said substantially horizontally inwardly extending protrusions, each of the protrusions at least partially extending through a respective said second through hole of a corresponding said leg in the stowed position. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the body is substantially perpendicular to each of the legs. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 15  wherein each of the bolts at least partially extends through a respective said first through hole of a respective said leg in the stowed position. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 15  wherein each of the bolts is configured to be rotated in a first rotational direction while in the operable position to thereby translate the respective second clamp half in a downward direction and clamp the ceiling panel between the respective first and second clamp halves, each of the bolts being configured to be rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction while in the stowed position to thereby translate the respective second clamp half in a direction away from the lower edge of the second through hole and unlock the bolt from the stowed position.